When we think about “outdoors”, we think mostly about BBQ, camping and picnics. Food and sweets like chicken wings, bite size tarts, meatballs, pies, frittata, cupcakes and brownies all come to mind. Outdoors can also mean house parties or potluck where everyone brings a long a dish and have it in someone’s backyard isn’t it? On many occassions, friends with celiac disease or a wheat allergy is not able to enjoy many of the desserts that is brought to the party. So this gluten free cake is dedicated to those with a wheat allergy. It is really easy to bake and need few ingredients but it tastes of naughty goodness 
almond coconut cake
This recipe is taken from my favourite cookbook, Mix and Bake from Belinda Jeffery. It is a rather “wet” cake but this i what makes it super moist and so buttery! Very naughty considering the amount of butter and sugar in the recipe.
Almond batter
The other cool thing about this cake is that it can be kept in the fridge for up to one week or in the freezer for up to 3 weeks! It is also suggest that it is great with a big dollop of cream or serve it with poached plums, quince or tamarillos. For me, it was perfect the way it is by itself It was well received by friends and also Mister’s colleagues.
Remember to check out the rest of the recipes at the cookbook challenge forum. It is not too late to join in
almond coconut cake
Ingredients:
- 180g of almond meal
- 60g of desiccated coconut
- 250g of castor sugar
- 4 eggs
- 11/2tsp of vanilla extract
- 1/4tsp almond essence
- 200g of unsalted butter. melted and cool
- 1/2tsp salt
- 2 – 3 tbsp of flaked almonds
- Icing sugar (optional) for dusting
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 180C. Butter a 23/24 cm shallow springform cake tin and line the base and sides. Dust the tin lightly with rice flour (can use flour but this will make it not gluten free) and set it aside
- Put almond meal, desiccated coconut, salt and sugar into a bowl and whisk them all together for a few minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla extract, almond essence until thoroughly mixed. Now mix in the cooled and melted butter slowly until all is incorporated.
- Tip the butter mixture and stir them together. It is a loose batter. Spread evenly across the tin and scattered the flaked almonds over the top
- Bake for about 40minutes or until the top of the cake springs back slowly when you press gently
- Cool the cake in the tin on a wire rack. When it is cooled, you can dust with icing sugar and serve
Please note:
I only had a 20cm and it worked just as well but I did lower the oven heat to 170C and baked for about 45mins. Worked perfectly.
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Ooh… rich and dense! Naughty but delicious, I’m sure.
leaf (the indolent cook) recently posted..a rustic carrot onion omelette
This theme had me stumped… it’s not a hard theme but I didn’t want to do traditional picnic food.
Cake looks fantastic. I’ll have to give a whirl!
Iron Chef Shellie recently posted..Steak Slices with Lemon & Thyme Rapid Roastini
@jeroxie if you swapped honey for the sugar, it fits the Specific Carb Diet too
must try 
and what carb diet is that? just curious?
Looks gorgeous! As an almond lover with a wheat-intolerant mother and grandmother, I’ll be bookmarking this for sure.
First, though, I need to figure out an Outdoors dish for myself. Eep, have I already run out of time? Uh-oh!
Hannah recently posted..Cashew- Fig and Molasses Nut Butter
I noticed that many Australians seem to be into this gluten free thing. There are many occasions in which I sat in a flight next to an Australia who is gluten intolerant…
You can be born with a genetic pre-disposition to coeliac disease, which is one form of gluten-intolerance. Caucasians and those from west-Asia are more likely to develop it. Aboriginal Australians are less likely. I wouldn’t say people are into it, usually they’re diagnosed after a long period of embarrassing symptoms. It plays havoc with your capacity to absorb nutrients too. I don’t understand anyone saying they have a food-intolerance when they don’t. I can’t eat wheat due to a fructan intolerance, and it’s difficult sorting all that out and managing it. You get there eventually though. Anyway, I’ve gone on long enough and far too seriously enough about it, so I’ll stop there
Queenotisblue recently posted..Aunt Olga’s Hazelnut Chocolate Cake – Cookbook Challenge 4 – aka Cake Love
thanks for the info and sorry to hear about your wheat intolerance.
Oh my! This cake looks soooo good. But I’m very partial to extra, extra moist cakes. It reminds me of a gourmet version of a dessert I grew up eating called, “Chess Bars”. I will try this cake out fo shizzle.
Jenny (VintageSugarcube) recently posted..14 Karat Cake with Golden Frosting
What a lovely, & thoughtful (for the intolerant friends), cake. Almond meal is a real favourite, it just gives such a lovely texture and flavour.
Heidi xo
The cake sounds so inviting & looks so moist.too. Yeap, gluten-free version looks as good. Thanks for the recipe & happy weekend.
Cheers, Kristy
kristy recently posted..Sesame Glutinous Rice Ball @ Jin Dui
It looks really dense and moist!
pigpigscorner recently posted..Kitchen W8
Oh my Penny this cake looks amazing. My Mom makes an almond cake that I have always loved but loving the one you’ve featured especially the coconut you’ve added. Can’t wait ti try this!!
Grace recently posted..Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
Yay for for gluten-free!
“Mix and Bake” really is a great cookbook. I intend to do more baking from it this winter. The almond with coconut is a nice twist, and different from the usual lemon pairing with almond meal. Lovely photos too.
Queenotisblue recently posted..Aunt Olga’s Hazelnut Chocolate Cake – Cookbook Challenge 4 – aka Cake Love
I love this, and it’s so moist it looks like a ginormous friand!
OohLookBel recently posted..Zucchini-wrapped lamb koftas
Delicioso!! I want to try this for myself, too!
You must!
Wonderfully tasty cake. Love love buttery goodness! I bet my daughter will fall in love with it at the first bite.
Christine@Christine’s Recipes recently posted..Converting Grams to Cups Problem & Solution
That looks so lovely and moist Penny!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Celini’s- Marrickville
Cake looks yummy and I like the idea that it can be kept in the fridge and longer still, in the freezer. So kind of you to share!
So delicious with almond and coconut, yum!
Ooooh it looks like a big, naughty friand… all for me
and no bloating !
foodie and the chef recently posted..summer’s end- aubergine- courgette and spinach terrines
I never had glutten free anything before. Does it taste the same? Pardon my ignorance but I am intrigued.
it uses almond meal and so the texture may be more grainy but it tastes really good. you won’t miss the flour
Oh Penny this is a winning recipe all the way! I love it and will be trying it very soon. Yummy!
Nancy-Spicie Foodie recently posted..Homemade Non Separating Almond Milk
thanks babe! it is pretty awesome
A gorgeous cake that I bet tasted as good as it looks! You ARE a baker Penny!
Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite recently posted..French Fridays with Dorie- Savory cheese and chive bread With BACON On Wednesday
I love almond meal. This sounds fabulous. Not only is it great for people with celiac, it’s great for everyone! Yum!
Trish recently posted..Lucky Watercress & Lime Soup
Always nice for celiacs and others with wheat/gluten sensitivities to be able to eat naughty foods too – this looks magnificent – must try it out on the celiacs in my family some time (a good excuse for me to have a piece!)
hahaa… we are the fortunate ones
My eyes popped when I saw the amount of butter used here. But looking at how fabulous your cake looks, I think it is worth it! Being gluten-intolerant, this recipe is perfect for me:) Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
That looks like my type of cake! I love almond cakes and I love coconut. They are so moist as well.
Susan recently posted..The River- Moruya
I am seriously swooning over this cake! Almond and coconut are such a great combination!
thank you thank you!!!
I came via Nuffnag link …sounds awesome my gluten free friends will be pleased.
Trish recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Reaching out
Great to know and thanks for visiting. I hope your friends will like it
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